Right or Left Helical?

steelhead22 · 06-25-2007, 12:32 PM

How do you know whether or not you need a right or left helical when fletching your own arrows? I shoot right handed, and so does my brother, but the bow shop has us set up with different helicals???

danger · 06-25-2007, 12:39 PM

I've always been told that it is strictly a matter of preferance. I am right handed, shot with a release and have always had a right helical. My setup can outshoot me any day.

:lurk:

Dan

Ildor · 06-25-2007, 01:04 PM

If I remember right the only time it matters is if your shooting the old flipper style rest. If you're shooting a dual prong, fall away or whisker biscuit style rest it shouldn't make any difference.

jimh · 06-25-2007, 02:18 PM

Left/Right makes some difference in vane/feather clearance depending on what arrow rest you have. Some rests are symetrical and some are not. The difference in clearance can be adjusted somewhat depending on how many degrees of offset your vane/feather has and also how many degrees offset the nock is from the end/center of the vane/feather. Another variable is length of vane/feather.

Beamerfish · 06-25-2007, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danger

My setup can outshoot me any day.

That's a good way of putting it. I like it - it tells me exactly where I need to concentrate my efforts.

steelhead22 · 06-25-2007, 04:24 PM

Thanks for the replys.

The reason I ask is that I'm going to be fletching my own arrows this year and need to know what clamp to get for my bitzenberger. Sounds like a right helical is the way to go.

Anyone disagree with that? I was kinda hoping that it would be an easy question, i.e. "If you shoot right handed, then you need a right helical" type deal????

sliverpicker · 06-25-2007, 05:16 PM

The old time stickbow shooters always said "right-handed...left helical" and vice versa. I shoot big ole feathers directly off the shelf and don't have a problem using right or left wing feathers, they fly just about the same.

If shooting plastic vanes it shouldn't matter much at all, but then again I don't shoot hi-tech. I always hear how tough it is "tune" the bow/arrow/broadhead combo.

Good luck!

toas243 · 06-25-2007, 08:01 PM

You can loosten the broad heads in long shots with the left hand twist

p

steelhead22 · 06-26-2007, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toas243

You can loosten the broad heads in long shots with the left hand twist

p

Not sure if you're kidding or not, but I have noticed that with the right helical that's on my arrows, after a couple shots I have to tighted the broadhead back up. It's unscrewed about a quarter turn or so. I guess that makes sense since the arrow is spinning the direction one would to unscrew the BH, and as that spinning arrow hits the target, it unscrews slightly.

I don't think it would effect hunting at all, but since it doesn't seem to matter what direction I have my helical, I'm going to go with the one that won't be unscrewing my broadheads.

nwsoftball · 06-26-2007, 09:18 AM

It doesn't matter for most setups. The arrow won't start to spin until well after it has cleared the rest.

toas243 · 06-26-2007, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steelhead22

Not sure if you're kidding or not, but I have noticed that with the right helical that's on my arrows, after a couple shots I have to tighted the broadhead back up. It's unscrewed about a quarter turn or so. I guess that makes sense since the arrow is spinning the direction one would to unscrew the BH, and as that spinning arrow hits the target, it unscrews slightly.

I don't think it would effect hunting at all, but since it doesn't seem to matter what direction I have my helical, I'm going to go with the one that won't be unscrewing my broadheads.

I`am just kidding ,btw I loctite my broad heads

Grantspastor · 06-27-2007, 10:27 AM

I think it's right helical in the Northern Hemisphere, and left helical in the Southern Hemisphere:smile: (Sorry, couldn't resist)